What's Happening at the Library in August?

Here's a look at what's going on at the Sachem Public Library in August:

Endangered Alphabets: Artist talk: Monday, August 1, 7 p.m.: The world’s 6000-7000 languages are written in fewer than 100 alphabets, of which at least one-third are endangered. The Endangered Alphabets Project, an exhibition of carvings which will be on display at the Sachem Public Library for the month of August, is the first-ever attempt to bring attention to this issue. Every one of the Endangered Alphabets (Inuktitut, Baybayin, Manchu, Bugis, Bassa Vah, Cherokee, Samaritan, Mandaic, Syriac, Khmer, Pahauh Hmong, Balinese, Tifinagh and Nom) is carved and painted into a slab of Vermont curly maple, challenging our assumptions about language, about beauty, and about the fascinating interplay between function and grace that takes place when we invent symbols for the sounds we speak.

Artist Tim Brookes will be at the library Monday, August 1 at 7:00pm to discuss the genesis of the project and give a personal tour of this remarkable and thought-provoking exhibit.

Makeup Tips and Techniques: Monday, August 8, 7 p.m.: Let a professional makeup artist show you how to apply makeup for everyday or for special occasions. Learn about different beauty products, and discover which colors and looks are right for you. 

Meditation for Everyday Living: Tuesday, August 9, 7 p.m.: Explore the power of meditation with John Bednarik. Discover how to decompress, regain your center, and experience the joy and serenity you seek in our fast-paced, stressful world. 

New York, New York Part II: Wednesday, August 10, 7 p.m.: Join Pat Sommerstad for part two of a delicious virtual tour of New York City's ethnic neighborhoods, featuring the best food destinations, and go home with maps and itineraries for your next NYC excursion. 

Great Decisions Discussion Series: Topic: Sanctions and Nonproliferation: Monday, August 15, 7 p.m.: Sanctions have been created to curb nations in violation of international law, especially agreements concerning nuclear nonproliferation. Can sanctions successfully curtail North Korea's and Iran's development of nuclear weapons? Sachem resident and long-time Great Decisions participant Peter Hanson will lead this monthly discussion series of global hot topics. Pick up a copy of the readings at the Welcome Desk. Great Decisions, a national, civic-education program on U.S. foreign policy and international issues, is sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association. 

Gazing Upon a Cosmic Ocean: Tuesday, August 16, 7 p.m.: Astrophysicist and former NASA consultant Kevin Manning will take you on a tour of the solar system and beyond. Following the program, a powerful telescope will be set up for viewing the rings of Saturn and other jewels of the night sky. 

Socrates Café: Tuesday, August 16, 7 p.m.: Exchange ideas with others while engaging in the Socratic practice of questioning. This new monthly group is led by local resident Joan Logan. Stop by the Welcome Desk to pick up a selection of readings on the topic: "When is it OK to lie?" There are over 600 ongoing Socrates Café gatherings around the globe coordinated by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to making ours a more participatory and inclusive world. 

Garden Thyme - You Asked for It!: Monday, August 22, 7 p.m.: Carolyn Zambraski has compiled a list of the most requested gardening topics for 2011. We will have a short Q&A for each of the following: organic lawn care, rose pest and disease control, and landscape maintenance. Bring your questions and get ready to take notes. 

The Naked Shoe: Tuesday, August 23, 7 p.m.: Author, journalist, and former Women's Wear Daily editor Jane Julianelli presents the life and work of her mother Mabel Julianelli, a world-renowned, award-winning shoe designer of the 1940s and 1950s. Ms. Julianelli will share the story of her parents’ unlikely love affair, as well as the talent and business acumen that catapulted them into New York high society and onto the international fashion stage. Enjoy a display of vintage footwear along with this tale of romance, fashion, and gossip. Books will be available for purchase and signing. 

Poetry: Verse in Person: Tuesday, August 30, 7 p.m.: Each month a guest poet presents a reading after which the audience is encouraged to share original works at an open mic. This month's guest reader is Barbara Reiher-Meyers, a Long Island poet and board member of the Long Island Poetry Collective. Her work has been published in print journals and online. Barbara generates weekly emails of local poetry events and has edited several volumes of poetry. Sounds Familiar is her first book of poems.

Outdoor August Performances

• World Rhythms: Sunday, August 7, 2 p.m.: Experience the power of the drum with Tony Vacca. Incorporating instruments from a world of traditions including African, Caribbean, Asian, and Middle Eastern, Mr. Vacca will share his unique blend of rhythm, spoken word, and percussion. Don't miss this non-stop athletic spectacle.
• The Devotions: Friday, August 12, 7 p.m.: Together since 1960, these much-loved veterans of doo wop return to the Library for an evening performance featuring their unique brand of vocal harmony and old-time rock 'n' roll. Catch them here before their September appearance at Westbury Music Fair!

August Films at Sachem Public Library 

Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: August 4, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I: August 11, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: As Harry races against time to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of the Deathly Hallows, the most powerful objects in the wizarding world. 

Gulliver's Travels: August 18, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Travel writer Lemuel Gulliver takes an assignment in Bermuda, but ends up on the island of Liliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens. 

True Grit: August 25, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer with the aid of Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, the toughest U.S. Marshal she can find. 

Foreign Film: Departures: Saturday, August 13, 2 p.m.: Daigo Kobayashi, an out-of-work cellist, takes a position in a funeral home preparing bodies for burial. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art, acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death. 

Reel Rebels: Film Discussion Group: Gasland: Tuesday, August 2, 6 p.m.: This month's selection is a shocking documentary about the natural gas industry, exposing yet again how corporate greed steamrolls everything in its way. Intriguing, informative, sometimes controversial, but always thought provoking, this monthly series combines the best in film and discussion. 

Opera & Art Film Series: Turandot: Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Set in China, Puccini's last opera tells the story of Princess Turandot, who will marry any man of royal blood who can solve the three riddles she sets him. Opera lovers won't want to miss Zeffirelli's legendary production of the Puccini masterpiece at the Metropolitan Opera, featuring outstanding performances from the trio of lead vocalists, and spectacular sets, costumes, and staging.